In my darker moments, I sometimes think the country would be better off ruled by a bunch of artificial intelligences with zero charisma but a far better grip on reality. Our policy decisions are too easily swayed by emotion and we have almost no capacity for thinking of long-term consequences. Ezra Klein’s post on taxes and the Afghan war reveals just how far we have to go towards a day when our leaders behave like sober, responsible adults rather than eager-to-please indulgent parents.
Rep. Dave Obey is proposing a surtax to pay for a small portion of the costs of the war. More specifically, it only pays for one year of the war. Of course, most of Obey’s colleagues–including fellow Democrats–have already declared the idea dead on arrival. Congress seems more inclined to fund a war effort of dubious merit (to put it charitably) that will likely add hundreds of billions to the deficit than to pass a health care bill that actually reduces the deficit. Military spending has always gotten a pass from both parties when it comes to any discussion of fiscal responsibility and that doesn’t seem likely to change soon.
I’m all for sensible defense spending. If you pressed me, I could probably even come up with some arguments for sticking it out in Afghanistan. Nevertheless, it’s dangerous to have an electorate be completely disconnected from the consequences of the leadership’s policy decisions. Our collective refusal to have a rational discussion about taxes and national priorities has created a wall between us and economic reality, but it’s a wall built on quicksand.
